Tractor.



E. F. NORELIUS.

TRACTOR.

Patented May 23, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

E. F. NORELIUS.

TRACTOR.

APPLICATION HLED rEB. 24, 1914.

1,1 84,'705. Patemed May 23, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

BII

EMIL F. N ORELIUS, OF PEORIA, ILLINO IS,` ASSIGNOR TO HOLT MANUFACTURING COM- PANY, OF PEORIA, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA.

TRACTOR.

Specificatioii of Letters Pateiit.

Patented May 23, 1916.

Application filed February 24, 1914. Serial N o. 820,504.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EML F. NOIELIUS, a ctizen of the United States, residing at Peoria, in tlie county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and endless self-laying traction member B8 prising in the pref articulated links, equipped with a grouser plate Bt. within the traction member is a truck conerred form a plurality of each link of which is. I

uset'ul Improvement in Tractors, of wliich sisting of a plurality of independent sec- 60 the following is a specification. tions, preferably two, B and BI, each truck This-invention relates to improvements in section being provided with a plurality of tractors and moreparticularly to that type rollers B2 engaging the track belt and adapteniployingan endless self-laying traction ed to run thereon. By reference to Fig. 1 V member, by which the vehicl'e is driven. it will be noted that one of the truck sec- Aniong the objects of the invention is the tions, for instance, the section B, is proprovision of a traction member which is free vided with a greater number of rollers than to yield -vertically throughout practicall its the other section BI, the section B being entii'e extent and thus conform substantially S hownas having three rollers and thesecto the contour of the ground over which the tion B1 having two rollers. ,The traction tractor passes, and at the same time is latmember B3 passes around idler sprockets B5 erally stifl" andvrigid to prevent diverging revolubly mounted on a shaft B8 on, th of the tractor from its course. truck section BI. ongitudin'al adjustinent A further object of the invention is to of the sprockets B5 is effected by means of a. combine in the smallest possible unit, a maxiyokeB6 onV which is mounted at one end the muin of tractionv power, utilizing ltraction shaft bearings B7, said yoke having a threadmembers of. the self-laying variety in a minied connection with w the'truck section BI, so mum of unit space that it may be shifted longitudinally in The invention-obviates all idle supporteither diiection by vscrewing on the nut B. inglsurfacesywhich are necessary in ordie yoke is provided with guides B9 which na-ry coiistruction, and when the usual type slide along the frame members B1 andlare of-steering mechanism is employed, and ,conadapted to lock the yoke and with y it'lthe trols the movement of the tractor directly sprocket mounted thereon'in adjusted posifrom and by the traction members. tion y ineans of clam s B. 35' Afull understanding of the invention will igidly mounted on the adjacent opposed be attained from the following detailed deends of the truck section frames are an le scription,v taken in connection with the acbars C These angle bars extend inwardl companyin'g drawings, illustratin'g a structoward the centei of the tractor beneath the tural enibodimentof the same in a preferred main frame,van'd are flush with the outer form, and vspecifically pointed out iii the Sides of the truck frames. Ator near'ea'ch claims. v 4 end the anglles are provided With hnge mei'ii- Referring to the drawings,`Figure 1 is be i-sC2 and Ca, and C4 :ind Cs, thesefhing'e a side elevation of the improved tractor; and members being pivotally mounted on a shaft Fig. 2 is a plan. eitending cleai across beneath'the main In the drawings, wherein` like,characters rame, and independent tlieieof Mounted of reference designate similar parts throughin this way each section of the truck frame lout-tlie severalviews, tlie main frame of the is free to rock about the shaft C6 in Slibmachine is designated. at A upoii which is stantially a vertical plane witliout interfermounted a prime inover A1 driving, through ence from the othei truck section It Will a; clutch Aruniversal joint Agear shaft Vbe ,noted that the truck sections as yield- A4 and reverse mechanism A, the clutch ingly mounted Will permit the traction membrazkes A6 and A7. These clutch brakes are er to yield X ei tically throughout practically adapted todrivethefpinions As which mesh its entire extent, and thus confor'm' Vsubstanwithgeais-Athe ,gfearslA9 in turn driving tially to the contour of the grund over suitable shaft-s Af1,,and with theshafts the u hich the tractor passes In this way the fpinions-Alineshing with the large gears'A12 equilibr'umy of the tiactor is not seriousl which drive theaxles A of the .sprockdisturbe'dwhy rough or uneven gro'und. To ets Al ,v i V niinimize the ]arof the tractioiijinember and ::;T;he.sprocketsiAmare adapted. to drive an prevent ti'ansinission of an iiidu'e ainouiit of vibration to the main frame resilient cushioning devices the truck sections and the main frame of the vehicle. Overhanging the truck sections at either side are a number -of channel beams W, C, which extend transversely beneath the main frame of the vehicle and are supported by the. angle bar C12 running longitudinally with the vehicle. This angle bar forms a saddlc C-8 for the springs C1 mounted on the truck B and the springs C13 on the truck B'. In this way the combined action of the springs yieldingly supports the load of the vehicle on the truck sections B and B1. For supporting the upward run of the traction member B3 a' number of idler rollers C are suitably mounted on the main lmovement of the truck ,the engine turns on ythe brakes is frame A of the vehicle.

Pivoted at one end on the main frame and at the other at D1 mounted in suitable bearings carried by the truck sections B and extending transversely beneath the main frame are links D whichserve to prevent longitudinal displacement of the fiexible traction members with respect to the main frame. These links coper'ate with the pivot shaft Ce in maintaining the truck sections upright'and at the samel time allowing each trucks'ection to have a free oscillating movement in a'vertic'al plane independent of every other: truck section. Further'bracing the trucks against lateral or longitudinal movement, without interference with their free vertical :oscillating movement is provided by the diagonal brace rods D, Ds, D*, D5, each of which has one end -fa'stened to the main frame and the other to one of the sections of the roller` frames. These fourirod's all cross each other at a point approximately below the lcenter of the pivot rodCW and tendto preve'nt sidewise warping or endwise sections, and atfthe saineV time, do not interfere' at' all With the V'Verticalyieldivng movement of the individual truck seetio'ns'andr portions which they run. The s e'erlng of' the tractor bis effected vby, manipulating one or'the other .of the clutch brakes A to disconnect -the driving-connections to the' respective track member; the driving connectionto the other traction member remaining intact so that that side to which the brake has been applied. i-Ymanipulation of accomplished from the Voperatorls seat indicatcd at D by the Selective leveri D? which controls the connections lD, DT. Speed control for the' enginesis'lind'i- ,cated byy the lever'D`J andithe revferse'by the It .ill be noted that. the entire-weight of the machine is supportedupon two endless flexible traction members whse bearing length isapproximately equal to the total length of the machine,'and that. in "order to render such a construction practicablc under are interposed between of the track.. on

working conditions, it is necessary to divide the roller truck into two sections and so connect these sections that they will coperate and maintain their alinemcnt and still give the necessary yielding support for the load.

By thus supporting the en'tire load on the two traction members it is possible to effect steering through the traction members. is done by suitably manipulating the selective lever so that if it is desi-red to turn to the right, the lever is operated to apply the right-hand brake, whereupon, through its clutch mechanism, the drive connections to the right-hand traction member is disconnected or retarded; the left-hand traction member still continuing to travel forward at normal speed that side on which less power is applied. To turn to the left the Operation is reversed. Such a construction permits the'entire obviation of steering wheels, thus materially reducing the number of parts and consequently rendering it much more compact than has been hitherto attained in vehicles of like character.

It is manifest that various changes in form, proportions and minor details of construction may be resorted to within .the scope of the appended claims and that I do not wish to limit' myself to the specific design and construction here shown.

What I claim is:

1. ,In a vehicle, the combination of a main frame and an endless, flexible, self-laying traction 'member, comprising a two-part roller-truck, a sprocket thereon, a sprocket' on the main frame, a track chain-Vriding over said sprockets and supporting thetruck, the two parts of the roller truck being pvotally connected along a line, at right angles to their longitudinal aXis, nection between' each of the main frame; f

2. A tractor comprising a main frame, an endless, flexible, self-laying traction' member on either side. thereof having each a twopart roller truck, and a connecting shaft the truck parts and oted extending across frame to join the two trucks together, the frontland rearparts of said trucks being tied together in pairs beneath'the'main frame.

`3. A tractor having an endless, flexible, self-layingV traction member mounted on either side, said traction member including al plurality of separate rollertruck parts, said parts being pivoted together, apivotal shaft upon which said parts are pivted extending across'beneath.the mainframe to tie the corresponding parts of the oppo'sed traction members together, and additional means cx'ten-ding aclross frame to tie said parts together.

a'nd a yielding con- This i and turn the machine to Iupon which each of said truck parts is pivbeneath the main' bene-ith .fthe imam 4. In a vehicle, the combination of a main frame, an endless flexible self-laying traction member, and a laterally rigid truck including a plurality of separate sections supported within the traction member, and having a free oscillating movement 1n substantially vertical planes about a transverse aXls, independent of the vehicle frame.

5. In a vehicle, the combination with the main frame, of an endless flexible self-laying traction member, and a laterally rigid vertically flexible truck supported within the traction member and comprising a plurality of separate sections, the several sections constituting the truck being pivotally connected together independently of the frame.

6. In a vehicle, the combination of a main frame, a. supporting member for the main frame including an endless flexible self-laying traction member and a laterally rigid, vertically flexible truck mounted within the traction member, said truck comprising two articulated sections, each of which is adapted to yield in substantially vertical planes about a common aXis independent of the vehicle frame.

7. In a vehicle, the combination of a main frame, a supporting member' for the main frame including an endless flexible self-laying traction member, a Vertically flexible truck mounted within the traction member, said truck comprising two articulated sections, each of which is adapted to yield in substantially vertical planes about a common axis independent of the vehicle frame, and means for maintaining the truck sections substantally rigid against lateral movement with respect to the frame.

8. In a vehicle, the combination with the main frame, of an endless, flexible, self-laying traction member, a truck supported within the traction member comprising a plurality of independent sections each adapted to have a free, oscillating, yielding movement in substantially vertical planes independent of the main frame, and yielding connections between the truck sections and the main frame.

9, In a vehicle, the combination with a frame, of a pair of self-laying tracks adapted to support the entire weight of the vehicle and its frame, trucks interposed between the frame and the traction members, each truck comprising a plurality of articulated sections, and yielding connections crosswise between the trucks to permit each truck section to yield independently of the other.

10. In a vehicle, the combination with a frame, of a pair of self-laying tracks adapted to support the entire weight of the vehicle and its frame. trucks interposed between the frame and the traction members, each truck comprising a plurality of articulated sections, yielding connections crosswise between the trucks to permit each truck section to yield independently of the other, and cushioning means interposed between the truck sections and the frame.

11. In a vehicle, the combination with a frame, of a pair of self-laying tracks adapted to support the entire weight of the vehicle and its frame, trucks interposed between the frame and the traction members, each truck comprising a plurality of articulated sections, yielding connections crosswise between the trucks to permit each-truck section to yield independently of the other, and means for steering the vehicle by varying the speed of one self-laying traction member with respect to the other.

12. In a vehicle, the combination with a frame, of a pair of self-laying tracks adapted to support the entire weight of the vehicle and its frame, trucks interposed between the frame and the traction members, each truck comprising a plurality of articulated sections, yielding connections crosswise between the trucks to permit each truck section to yield independently of the other, cushioning means interposed between the truck sections and the frame, and means for steering the vehicle by varyin the speed of one self-laying traction mem er with respect to the other.

13. In a traction engine, the combination of a main frame, an engine carried thereby, a pair of flexible, endless, self-laying traction members extending approximately the entire length of the frame and supporting the entire load, drive connections between the engine and said traction members, articulated trucks within the traction members and traveling on the ground run thereof, means for supporting the load yieldably on the trucks to permit each truck section to have a limited yielding motion independent of the others, connections between the articulations of one truck and the articulations of the opposite truck, and means for steering the machine acting through the drive connections between the engine and the traction members.

14. The combination with a vehicle frame, of a driving member therefor embodying an endless, flexible, self-laying track, a drive sprocket mounted on the frame around which the track travels, an articulated truck within the endless, flexible, self-laying track, said truck member composed of articulated sections, each of which sections has springs interposed between it and the frame to support the latter, and a front idler adjustably mounted on the foremost of said articulated sections and around which idler the track travels, with means for maintaining the articulated truck sections in operative position under working conditions between said sprocket and said idler.

15. The combination with a main frame,

of a pair of endless-flexible traction members on opposite sides thereof, articulated trucks within the traction nembers, a shaft diseonneeted from the main frame connectinzgr the trucks at their points of articulation so that each truck section has a free, limited, oscillating, Vertical motion, and springs interposed between the frame and the truck sections and supporting the load thereon.

16. The combination with a main frame, of a pair of endless-flexible traction members on opposite sides thereof, articulated trucks within the traction members, a shaft disconnected from the main frame connecting the trucks at their points of articulation so that each truck section has a free limited oscillating;r vertical motion, and springs interposed between the frame and the truck sections and supporting the load thereon, each truck section having an inwardly projecting arm or bracket member extending parallel with the shaft with the inner ends of the bracket members liingedly connected to the shaft.

17. The combination with a vehicle frame, of a pair of endless, flexible traction members arrangcd on opposite sidcs thereof, trucks within the traction members yieldingly supporting the load, each truck coinposed of two alined articulated sections, and a shaft extendin;r transversely of the frame and forlning the articulations for both trucks, and about which shaft each section has a limited vertical rocking move- Inent.

In testimony whereof, ture in the presence of two witnesses 18th day of February 1914.

EMIL F. NORELIUS.

I aftix my signathis \Vitnesses HLLAM TURNBULL, C. C. BAKER. 

